On the 1st October 1970 Jimi Hendrix was buried at The Greenwood Cemetery (Dunlop Baptist Church) in Seattle. Many people showed up and paid last respects to Hendrix. The whole family and close friends arrived in twenty-four limousines and more than two hundred people attended the funeral. Among the many mouners were Jimi’s band mates Mitch Mitchell, Noel Redding and other musicians (Miles Davis, Eric Burdon, John Hammond and Johnny Winter).

Miles Davis at Hendrix‘ funeral

James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix died from barbiturate-related asphyxia on the 18th September 1970 at the age of only 27.

On the 12th March 1955, Jazz saxophonist Charles „Charlie“ Parker died of a heart attack at the age of 34 years. Charlie, also nicknamed „Bird“ or „Yardbird“, was a leading force in the development of Bebop and became also an icon of the „Beat Generation“.

Born on the 29th August 1920 in Kansas City, little Charlie began playing saxophone at the age of 11. In the following years he developed his own style by practing up to 15 hours a day. Parker played with local Jazz bands in Kansas and in 1938 he joined pianist Jay McShann’s territory band. One year later he moved to New York City and in 1942 he started to play with Earl Hines, whose band also featured Dizzy Gillespie. Charlie Parker also jammed with young groups at the Clark Monroe’s Uptown House and Minton’s Playhouse. During that period he also crossed paths with pianist Thelonious Monk, guitarist Charlie Christian and drummer Kenny Clarke.

Charlie Parker became very soon an additc to heroin and he used the drug throughout his life. This caused always troubles for „Bird“ and he missed gigs and lost work regularly. On the 12th March 1955, Parker died in New York City in a suite at the Stanhope Hotel in New York City. The official causes were lobar pneumonia, a bleeding ulcer and a heart attack. He also had an advanced case of cirrhosis. The coroner estimated Parker’s 34 years old body to be between 50 and 60 years of age.